Repost this day 2018: Redholme, 1896, by the pretty prolific #JohnBeswicke. A lovely #StKildaRoadMansion, pretty much Edwardian/#QueenAnne style a few years before it got really popular (though not the first); also unusual that its 1896, nothing much built then, the 1890s crash didn’t lift till the later 1890s. I remember this from the 80s/90s as … Continue reading Redholme, St Kilda Road →

Repost this day 2017: This crumbling #cornershop has looked like this as long as I can remember. Taking the #distressedlook to extremes. 2021 update : sold in 2019, and turns out it was part of a big L shape site with equally untouched building on Highett St, was owned by the Pearce family, who ran … Continue reading Crumbling in Richmond →

Repost this day 2018: Ulimaroa, another nice #StKildaRoadMansion, built 1890, probably by #LeonardJFlannagan. Fun facts : The name was made up by a Swedish geographer in 1776 for Australia, based on what he thought the Maori’s called it; it was occupied from 1890 to 1946 by the Traill family who ran shipping co #HuddartParker; then … Continue reading Ulimaroa, St Kilda Road →

Repost this day 2018: #LittleMilton, 1926; an impressive, not little at all, #OldEnglish (#TudorRevival) house in upscale #Toorak. I’d heard of it, but didn’t realise that it was notable in part because it was designed by a ‘woman architect’, Muriel Stott, who then left for South Africa. What a pity. No other major works here, … Continue reading A woman architect in Toorak, 1926 →

Repost from 2014 : #crazyhouse, 3 Westgarth Street, #fitzroy.Probably a 1960s #renovation of a #terracehouse by an italian immigrant concreter but who knows ? Looks like made of leftovers from an office block or shopping centre. Definitely #featurism as #robinboyd would say. I love it. 2021: still there, now a share house.

Clyde House, 1915, Collins Street, next to the Athenaeum, one of the numerous pre 1960 #tallthinfrontages you find in the CBD- and yet another Edwardian era design by #NahumBarnet, this one vaguely Art Nouveau, all one big bay window, with delightful carved decorations of thistles. Built as offices, in the 40s it also included ‘my … Continue reading Clyde House, Collins Street →

Looking spooky in the rain yesterday - this black tower on the corner of Swanston and Little Collins was built for Cann’s Drapery, in two stages, the first 6 floors in 1919, designed by #NahumBarnet, using Monier #reinforcedconcrete (photo 3) which allowed for another 2 floors in 1935, designed by #MarcusBarlow (who did the same … Continue reading Cann’s Ladieswear, Swanston Street →

Repost 2015 (!) : Surprised to learn recently that this was not just a stylish block of #artdecoflats in #alfredcrescent #northfitzroy but was originally built late 30s as a #policestation, and designed by my favourite architect #percyeverett, chief architect of the #publicworksdepartment!

The Willows, originally Estella, built 1890, architect #WilliamWolf, for Leon Cohen, a ‘well known bookmaker’ (who started out with his own clothing business age 21 in 1857). It had a ballroom, billiard room, conservatory, coach house and tennis court. They put it up for sale in 1895 ‘at a reduced price’, but still had it … Continue reading Estella/Rathgael/The Willows →

Repost this day 2014 (my first Samsung had a pretty good camera) : Totally #neoclassical #terracehouses on VictoriaParade on the East Melbourne side - always admired these for stolid proportions and #unpainted finish and being uncommon for a #victorian design. Turns out that's because they're not ! Built 1910 designed by G W Vanheems best … Continue reading Neo Classical in East Melbourne →